U.S. patent application number 13/211953 was filed with the patent office on 2012-08-23 for beer tap diffuser device.
This patent application is currently assigned to HWB, L.L.C.. Invention is credited to Nick Baker, Matthew Hemminger, Aaron Wiebke.
Application Number | 20120211575 13/211953 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46651939 |
Filed Date | 2012-08-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120211575 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hemminger; Matthew ; et
al. |
August 23, 2012 |
Beer Tap Diffuser Device
Abstract
A diffuser combined with a beer dispensing nozzle to diffuse the
beer as it is being dispensed from the nozzle. In use, this device
is beneficial when making multi-layered drinks such as Black and
Tans to help prevent the top layer of beer from mixing with the
lower layer of beer as the top layer is being poured from the
nozzle into the glass.
Inventors: |
Hemminger; Matthew;
(Fairfax, IA) ; Wiebke; Aaron; (Cedar Rapids,
IA) ; Baker; Nick; (Waverly, IA) |
Assignee: |
HWB, L.L.C.
Fairfax
IA
|
Family ID: |
46651939 |
Appl. No.: |
13/211953 |
Filed: |
August 17, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61374311 |
Aug 17, 2010 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
239/589 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B67D 1/1405 20130101;
B05B 1/265 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
239/589 |
International
Class: |
B05B 1/00 20060101
B05B001/00 |
Claims
1. A device for making a multi-layered drink, said device
comprising: a diffuser combined with a liquid dispensing
nozzle.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the diffuser has a convex
shape.
3. The device of claim 2 wherein the convex shape includes an
outward bulge extending toward the nozzle.
4. A device for making a multi-layered drink, said device
comprising: a diffuser pivotally combined with a dispensing
nozzle.
5. The device of claim 4 wherein the diffuser has a convex
shape.
6. The device of claim 5 wherein the convex shape includes an
outward bulge extending toward the nozzle.
7. A device for making a multi-layered drink, said device
comprising: a diffuser pivotally combined with a nozzle connection
member which is adapted to be combined with a beer dispensing
nozzle.
8. The device of claim 7 wherein the diffuser has a convex
shape.
9. The device of claim 8 wherein the convex shape includes an
outward bulge extending toward the nozzle.
10. A device for making a drink using a liquid dispensing device
having a nozzle, said device comprising: an attachment member
having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end pivots
related to the nozzle; a diffuser combined with the attachment
member second end, said diffuser having a curved surface.
11. The device of claim 10 wherein the diffuser has a convex
shape.
12. The device of claim 11 wherein the convex shape includes an
outward bulge extending toward the nozzle.
13. The device of claim 10 wherein the nozzle has an exit opening
for dispensing a liquid.
14. The device of claim 10 wherein the pivotal motion of the
attachment member relative to the nozzle allows the diffuser to
have a first position wherein it dangles below the nozzle and a
second position wherein it is not below the nozzle.
15. The device of claim 14 further comprising a locking tab
operatively combined with the nozzle for selectively securing the
diffuser in its second position.
16. A device for making a drink having an upper layer of liquid and
a lower layer of liquid wherein the upper layer of liquid is poured
from a liquid dispensing device having a nozzle, said device
comprising: a nozzle connection member combined with the nozzle; an
attachment member having a first end and a second end, wherein the
first end is pivotally attached to the securing member; a diffuser
combined with the attachment member second end, said diffuser
having a curved surface.
17. The device of claim 16 wherein the diffuser has a convex
shape.
18. The device of claim 17 wherein the convex shape includes an
outward bulge extending toward the nozzle.
Description
[0001] This application is based upon and claims priority to U.S.
Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/374,311 filed Aug. 17, 2010,
the complete disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated
by this reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Many cultures have multi-layered alcoholic drinks wherein a
lighter beer such as an ale is blended in the same glass with a
darker beer such as a stout or porter. To properly make the drink
the two types of beers should not mix with each other in the glass.
In the United States and many parts of Europe, the most common of
such drinks is called a Black and Tan. A Black and Tan is a drink
made from a blend of pale ale and a dark beer such as a stout or
porter. Typically, to prepare a Black and Tan, the glass is filled
about halfway with the ale, then the stout or porter is poured on
top of the ale to fill the remainder of the glass. There are many
different variations of a Black and Tan. For example, sometimes a
pale lager is used instead of ale; this is usually called a half
and half. Traditionally, the top layer is best poured slowly over
an upside-down tablespoon placed over the glass to reduce the speed
of the beer as it enters the glass which helps to prevent splashing
and mixing the layers. The problem with this technique is that it
can be difficult for the person making the drink to pour the beer,
hold the glass, and hold the spoon over the glass at the same time.
There is therefore a need for a device which makes it easier to
prepare multi-layer drinks.
SUMMARY
[0003] The present invention comprises a device having diffuser
combined with a beer dispensing nozzle. The device is used when
preparing multi-layered drinks, such as Black and Tans, to help
prevent the top layer of beer from mixing with the lower layer of
beer as the top layer is being poured from the nozzle into the
glass. Although this specification focuses on beer based
multi-layered drinks, the device may be used to make multi-layered
drinks comprising liquids other than beer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 is a side view of the invention showing the diffuser
positioned below the nozzle;
[0005] FIG. 2 is a side view of the invention showing the diffuser
pivoted upward so that it is not below the nozzle;
[0006] FIG. 3 is a side view of the nozzle;
[0007] FIG. 4 is a side view of the nozzle connection member;
[0008] FIG. 5 is a side view of the diffuser;
[0009] FIG. 6 is a top view of the nozzle connection member;
[0010] FIG. 7 is a side view of an embodiment wherein the diffuser
is conical;
[0011] FIG. 8 is a side view of an embodiment wherein the diffuser
is cubical; and
[0012] FIG. 9 is a side view of another embodiment wherein the
diffuser is a cubical.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] The present invention is a device used for making
multi-layered drinks such as Black and Tans. The device helps to
prevent the top layer of liquid from mixing with the lower layer of
liquid as the top layer is poured into the glass from a nozzle 10.
As shown in FIG. 1, a diffuser 16 is combined with the nozzle 10 of
a beer dispenser. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a
nozzle connection member 12 is combined with the nozzle 10 by any
suitable means, including adhesively, interlocking screw threads,
mechanical fasteners, a snap fit, or an interference fit. The
nozzle connection member 12 helps the diffuser 16 combine with the
nozzle 10. Members 14 extending from the diffuser 16 have a first
end and a second end. The first end of the members 14 are attached
to nozzle connection member 10 and the second end of members 14 are
attached to the diffuser 16. The members 14 allow the diffuser 16
to extend a predetermined distance below the exit opening of the
nozzle 10. In one embodiment, the first end of the attachment
members 14 are pivotally combined with the nozzle connection member
12 to allow the diffuser 16 to be moved out from under the nozzle's
10 exit opening when the diffuser 16 is not needed. In some
embodiments, the members 14 are combined directly to the nozzle 10
without the need for the nozzle connection member 12.
[0014] The diffuser 16 may be any suitable shape including round
(FIGS. 1 & 2), conical (FIG. 7), cubical (FIGS. 8 & 9),
square, diamond, spherical, or hemispherical. As shown in FIGS. 1,
7, 8, and 9, the diffuser 16 is preferably a solid member having a
convex shape with its outward bulge extending upwardly toward the
nozzle 10. As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, in the embodiments
where the shape of the diffuser 16 comprises at least one point 30
(i.e. conical, cube, and diamond), the point 30 may face toward the
nozzle's 16 exit opening during use to serve as the upwardly
extending budge of the diffuser's 16 convex surface. Alternatively,
as shown in FIG. 9, the diffuser 16 may have a smoothly curving
convex top surface to help diffuse the force of the beer regardless
of the shape of the rest of the diffuser 16. In one embodiment, the
side(s) of the diffuser 16 that are adapted to have fluid flowing
over them are generally smooth to allow the fluid flowing from the
nozzle 10 to be spread outward toward the edges of the diffuser 16
in all directions to help prevent the top layer from mixing with
the lower layer.
[0015] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment comprising a locking tab 18. The
locking tab 18 is a member that extends outwardly from the nozzle
connection member 12 or from the nozzle 10. As discussed above, the
attachment members 14 are adapted to pivot relative to the nozzle
10 to allow the diffuser 16 to be pivoted out from under the nozzle
10 when it is not needed. The locking tab 18 is sized and
positioned to selectively lock the diffuser 16 in its upward
position. In the embodiment shown, this is achieved using a snap or
interference fit, however, any other suitable locking mechanism may
be used. As shown in FIG. 2, once the user pivots the device upward
so that the attachment members 14 are above the locking tab 18, the
device will remain in its upward position until the user forces the
attachment members 14 back over the locking tab 18 downward to its
usable position.
[0016] FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 show the major components of the
invention individually. The various components can be made of any
suitable material, including metal, plastic or rubber. These
figures show how in one embodiment the components fit together
using a snap or interference fit which allows for easy assembly and
disassembly. In the embodiment shown in these figures, it can be
seen in FIG. 3 that the nozzle 10 comprises a groove 20. As shown
in FIG. 6, the nozzle connection member 12 has an opening 11 in its
center adapted to receive the nozzle 10. A retaining member 13
inside the nozzle connection member's 12 opening 11 (protruding
toward the center of the opening 11) fits into the nozzle's groove
20 to secure the nozzle connection member 12 to the nozzle 10.
Similarly, as shown in FIG. 4, the nozzle connection member 12 has
sockets 22 in it that are adapted to receive the retaining members
24 which protrude from the ends of the attachment members 14 (FIG.
5). The retaining members 24 are pivotally connected with the
nozzle connection member 12 to allow the diffuser 16 to pivot out
from under the nozzle 10 if necessary. As described above, in other
embodiments the attachment members 14 may be combined directly with
the nozzle 10 without using the intermediate nozzle connection
member 12.
[0017] In use, when the user desires to make a drink having two
different layers, such as a Black and Tan, the user pivots the
device so that the diffuser 16 is positioned below the nozzle 10 of
the second beer (top layer) to be poured into the glass. The
diffuser 16 dangles below the nozzle 10 to diffuse and reduce the
speed of the beer after it exits the nozzle 10 which helps to
prevent the top layer of beer from mixing with the lower layer of
beer. After the user is done with the device, the device can be
pivoted upward and locked out of the way using the locking tab
18.
[0018] Having thus described the invention in connection with the
preferred embodiments thereof, it will be evident to those skilled
in the art that various revisions can be made to the preferred
embodiments described herein with out departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention. It is my intention, however, that all such
revisions and modifications that are evident to those skilled in
the art will be included with in the scope of the following
claims.
* * * * *